WPXN-TV
Full-power Ion Television station serving New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WPXN-TV is a full-power television station licensed to New York City and serving the broader New York metropolitan area on channel 31. It is an owned-and-operated station of Ion Television, the national broadcast network operated by Ion Media, which is a subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company. The station maintains offices in Midtown Manhattan and transmits from One World Trade Center. The station began broadcasting on November 5, 1961, as WUHF, an experimental UHF service developed by the City of New York and the Federal Communications Commission. The experiment tested whether UHF television could provide reliable service in a dense urban environment. After the initial test period, control passed to the city and the station adopted the call sign WNYC-TV on November 5, 1962. Although its license was commercial, the city operated it as a noncommercial educational and civic station. Its schedule included educational films, college-level instructional programming, public-affairs content, United Nations coverage, selected NET and PBS programs, and municipal news. The station also leased airtime to foreign-language programmers, including Italian and Japanese services. WNYC-TV became culturally significant through Video Music Box, a music-video program created by station employee Ralph McDaniels that premiered in 1983. Initially covering several popular-music genres, the program increasingly focused on rap and R&B and helped expose New York audiences to emerging hip-hop performers. It remained associated with channel 31 for roughly a decade before later moving to another New York television outlet. New York City decided to dispose of the station during the fiscal and political debates of the mid-1990s. In 1995, a partnership of Dow Jones and Company and ITT won an auction for the license with a bid of $207 million. WNYC-TV ended its municipal operation at midnight on June 30, 1996. The station returned the following day as WBIS, branded S+, with an experimental combination of business news, sports, lifestyle programming, classic sports, and infomercials. The permanent format launched in January 1997, but the hybrid concept attracted insufficient audiences and advertising. ITT exited its investment in May 1997, and Dow Jones soon sought a buyer. Paxson Communications acquired the station in 1997. After an interim schedule, the station adopted the WPXN-TV call sign on July 1, 1997. It became part of the Pax television network when that service launched on August 31, 1998, carrying infomercials, syndicated family-oriented reruns, religious programming, and other network material. A subsequent arrangement with NBC and WNBC provided rebroadcasts of WNBC evening newscasts; those local marketing and joint-sales arrangements ended in 2005. The September 11, 2001 attacks destroyed the station's World Trade Center transmission facilities. WPXN-TV returned to the air from a temporary low-power site in West Orange, New Jersey, and later moved its transmitter to the Empire State Building. In 2017, the station announced plans to resume transmission from One World Trade Center. Pax TV was renamed i: Independent Television in 2005 and became Ion Television in 2007. WPXN-TV now primarily carries Ion's national schedule, including syndicated off-network series, original and acquired programming, paid programming, and network content distributed through Ion's broadcast system.
History
WPXN-TV traces its history to New York City's early efforts to use television for public service and to test the practicality of UHF broadcasting in a large urban market. The city received a construction permit for a commercial television station in 1954. On November 5, 1961, WUHF began experimental broadcasts under an arrangement involving the Municipal Broadcasting System and the FCC. Engineers monitored reception in test homes, schools, and businesses across the city. The experiment used simulcasts, educational films, distance-learning courses, and other trial programming to assess the performance of UHF transmission in an urban setting. After the trial was judged successful, the city assumed full control. On November 5, 1962, the station became WNYC-TV, joining the city's WNYC radio services. Despite holding a commercial license, it was operated as a noncommercial educational and civic outlet. Its programming included public-affairs shows, municipal coverage, educational material, selected NET and PBS programs, and live or recorded coverage of United Nations proceedings. A weekday municipal newscast, initially titled News from City Hall and later expanded and renamed, focused on New York government and civic affairs. During the 1970s and 1980s, the station faced the same financial pressures affecting city services. Mayor Ed Koch considered selling the WNYC stations during a municipal fiscal crisis, although the radio stations ultimately received support through the WNYC Foundation. WNYC-TV also leased airtime to outside programmers. Foreign-language schedules included programming supplied by Japan's Fujisankei Communications Group and Italy's RAI. In 1983, station employee Ralph McDaniels created Video Music Box. The program became particularly important to the development and visibility of New York rap and R&B culture and remained a notable part of the station's identity for many years. The municipal era ended during the administration of Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In 1995, New York City chose to sell the television license separately from the WNYC radio stations. ITT-Dow Jones Television LLC, a partnership of Dow Jones and Company and ITT Corporation, won the auction with a $207 million bid. The transaction was delayed by FCC licensing issues and objections from foreign-language programmers. WNYC-TV signed off on June 30, 1996, and returned twelve hours later as WBIS, using the S+ brand. WBIS initially combined Classic Sports Network programming and infomercials. Its intended permanent format launched on January 21, 1997, with business news during the day and sports programming at night. Dow Jones supplied business journalism and resources associated with The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Telerate, and related outlets, while ITT supplied sports resources connected to Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks, and the New York Rangers. The station also carried selected Fox Sports Net programming. The concept, however, failed to build a sustainable audience or advertising base. ITT sold its interest in May 1997, and Dow Jones soon agreed to sell the station to Paxson Communications. Paxson assumed control in 1997 and changed the call sign to WPXN-TV. Before the purchase was completed, the station operated under a local marketing arrangement while regulatory approval was obtained. Its interim schedule included Bloomberg Business News, infomercials, and religious programs. On August 31, 1998, it became an affiliate of the newly launched Pax network. In 1999, NBC acquired a minority interest in Pax and encouraged relationships between NBC stations and local Pax outlets. In New York, WPXN-TV entered an arrangement with WNBC that included rebroadcasts of WNBC's evening newscasts. Those arrangements ended in 2005. The station's transmission history was disrupted by the September 11, 2001 attacks. Its World Trade Center transmitter was destroyed, and WPXN-TV returned to service from a temporary low-power facility in West Orange, New Jersey. It later transmitted from the Empire State Building. In 2017, WPXN-TV announced that it would move transmission back to the new One World Trade Center. The network changed from Pax TV to i: Independent Television in 2005 and adopted the Ion Television name in 2007. WPXN-TV remains the New York Ion outlet and is owned by Ion Media, which became part of the E. W. Scripps Company in 2021.
- 2021
Ion Media joins the Scripps group
[2]Ion Media becomes a subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company, bringing WPXN-TV into the Scripps corporate group.
- 2017
One World Trade Center transmission plan announced
[1]WPXN-TV announces a return to transmission from One World Trade Center.
- 2007
Pax network becomes Ion Television
[1]The national network adopts the Ion Television name, under which WPXN-TV continues to operate.
- 2001
September 11 transmission disruption
[1]The station's World Trade Center transmission facilities are destroyed; service resumes from a temporary New Jersey facility.
- 1998
WPXN joins the Pax network
[1]WPXN-TV becomes part of the Pax national television network.
- 1997
Paxson acquires the station
[1]Paxson Communications takes control, changes the call sign to WPXN-TV, and replaces the failed WBIS hybrid format.
- 1996
WNYC-TV signs off and WBIS launches
[1]The municipal station ends operations on June 30 and returns as WBIS, branded S+, under private ownership.
- 1995
Municipal sale is awarded to ITT and Dow Jones
[1]A partnership of ITT and Dow Jones wins the auction for the former WNYC-TV license.
- 1983
Video Music Box premieres
[1]Ralph McDaniels launches the music-video program that later becomes strongly associated with New York rap and R&B culture.
- 1962
Station becomes WNYC-TV
[1]The city assumes full control and changes the call sign to WNYC-TV, operating the station as a civic and educational service.
Products and positioning
A metropolitan-market owned-and-operated broadcast outlet providing Ion Television's general-entertainment schedule to viewers in and around New York City.
National broadcast network service · 2007
Ion Television programming
WPXN-TV's principal offering is the Ion Television schedule distributed over the air to the New York metropolitan area. Ion's schedule has generally emphasized acquired off-network series, general entertainment, paid programming, and other nationally distributed content rather than a large locally produced news operation.
Music television program · 1983
Video Music Box
Created by station employee Ralph McDaniels and premiered on WNYC-TV in 1983, Video Music Box became an influential New York music-video program. Its programming evolved toward rap and R&B and provided important exposure for hip-hop artists during the genre's formative period.
Public-affairs and educational television · 1962
WNYC-TV civic and educational programming
During the municipal era, the station carried educational films, distance-learning courses, civic-affairs programs, municipal news, United Nations coverage, and selected public television content. This service reflected the city's use of channel 31 as a public-interest broadcaster despite its commercial license classification.
Marketing campaigns
- 1997Sports, money, and, oh yeah, life
New York metropolitan area
WBIS promoted its combined sports and business format through a substantial advertising campaign developed by Ryan Drossman & Partners. Outdoor advertising featured New York Knicks player Larry Johnson and presented the station as a distinctive alternative to existing sports and news outlets.
Outcome. The format and campaign did not generate sufficient audience or advertising revenue, and WBIS was replaced by Paxson's programming later in 1997.
Brand decisions
2001
Transmission facilities are relocated after September 11OtherBackground
The September 11 attacks destroyed WPXN-TV's World Trade Center transmission facilities.
Action taken
The station resumed service from a temporary low-power facility in West Orange, New Jersey, and later moved its transmitter to the Empire State Building.
Aftermath
WPXN subsequently announced a planned return to One World Trade Center transmission facilities.
1997
WBIS adopts a sports-and-business hybrid formatStrategyBackground
Dow Jones and ITT sought to combine business journalism, professional sports, lifestyle coverage, and syndicated sports programming for the New York market.
Action taken
The station launched daytime business coverage and nighttime sports programming under the S+ identity.
Aftermath
The format failed to attract adequate viewership and revenue. ITT exited, Dow Jones sought a buyer, and Paxson acquired the station.
1997
Paxson converts the station to a network outletStrategyBackground
After the WBIS experiment faltered, Paxson Communications sought to use the New York channel as part of its national UHF station group.
Action taken
Paxson changed the call sign to WPXN-TV and introduced a schedule built around business programming, infomercials, and religious content before the Pax network launch.
Aftermath
WPXN became a Pax station in 1998 and later continued as an Ion Television owned-and-operated outlet.
Acquisition offer. 225 million USD (1997)
1995
New York City decides to sell the television stationM&ABackground
The Giuliani administration argued that television broadcasting was no longer essential for municipal ownership and pursued a sale during continuing city budget pressures.
Action taken
The city solicited bids and awarded the license to the ITT-Dow Jones partnership after an auction.
Aftermath
The sale ended the WNYC-TV municipal era and led to the station's conversion into a commercial sports-and-business service.
Auction bid. 207 million USD (1995)
Sources3 sources
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